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CHEO
is an acronym for Complementary Health Education Organization, a non-profit group whose goal is to
educate the public about complementary and integrative
health. To say we’re a diverse group of folks is an
understatement! But we have this ONE passion in common:
we are committed to encouraging individuals to partner
with their healthcare providers and in the process, to
become informed participants in their own healthcare.
Let me
backtrack a bit. My husband and I, while NOT healthcare
practitioners, consider ourselves to be our own ‘patient
advocates.’ For a long while now, we’ve sung the mantra
that each person HAS to take responsibility for their own
health care. Just as we do with any new information, we
listen and weigh / research the options; if the protocol
sounds like it might be beneficial, we give it a try, and
carefully monitor results. If it doesn’t help, we remain
open to the next protocol that holds promise..does
that make sense??
Well, a
couple of years ago I had to ‘put my money where my mouth
is’, so to speak! I had lived a high stress lifestyle
(real estate brokerage) and my health literally fell apart;
after multiple specialists and thousands of dollars, I
began the process of researching everything I could find on
my condition, what caused it, how to monitor it, etc. It at
all possible, I wanted to avoid drugs and surgeries, and
felt there had to be some natural alternatives…
Alas,
it appeared my warranty had run out….
I was
referred to a physician who specializes in nutrition—Dr.
Terry Smith (also a CHEO member) by one of the
founding members of CHEO, Ed Jones (owner of
Nutrition World). I had a badly torn rotator cuff, and
learned about the benefits of prolotherapy, by Mary Alice
Crapo, another CHEO member. My cholesterol,
triglycerides, and yeast levels were off the charts; I had
been plagued by frequent bladder and kidney infections as
well as bleeding from the colon (I’d had as many as ten
colonoscopies, and was diagnosed with IBS) I learned about
the critical importance of magnesium and colon health from
a
visit to Stillpoint Colonics/June Carver Drinnon, ANOTHER
CHEO member! I was having trouble walking, and hip
surgery was suggested as an option. Then, I was reminded of
the vital role of pH balance in the body, and introduced to
this amazing alkaline, ionized water machine, by another
member of CHEO, Patricia Peak.
Now being
the rocket scientist I am, I noticed CHEO continued
providing me with answers I’ve needed. So I decided to
TAKE THE NEXT STEP and attend one of their monthly
meetings—did I mention they’re free??! At that first
meeting, I met the most incredible physician who integrates
standard medical protocol with holistic / integrative
therapies, Dr. Charles Adams…and guess what, he’s also a
CHEO board member!
Is a
pattern beginning to form here??
I’m now pain
free-- WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY! Not only can
I walk, but many days I can run-- WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY; my cholesterol and triglycerides
dropped like a stone within the first two months,
WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY. My torn rotator cuff
appears to have healed, AGAIN WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY.
And after 30 days of being hooked up to a sleep apnea
machine, it now collects dust on the shelf…(John’s pleased
that the ‘darth vader mask’ is a thing of the past….best of
all, I’m dreaming again!) WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY.
My candida and bladder infections are a thing of the
past…etc, etc.
Did I
mention that all this has happened, WITHOUT DRUGS OR
SURGERY??
In
retrospect, I realize I have been blessed with some
compassionate, ‘standard medical protocol’ specialists who
encouraged my active participation in my own healthcare
regimen and helped me monitor results. There are no magic
bullets! Ironically, good health is NOT rocket science.
Without a doubt, I’m paying more attention to the huge role
diet and a stressful lifestyle play in overall health…I have
learned, all over again, that our bodies are designed to
heal themselves when given the opportunity.
But I
ALSO REALIZE CHEO has been an invaluable resource
in this journey towards optimal health. It’s an inexpensive
way to have access to worlds of knowledge and experience
that I would never have known existed!. Think about
it--you’re reading about this in Natural Awakenings
Magazine, a valued sponsor of CHEO…
Now
wouldn’t CHEO be a good idea for you and your family as
well??
When you
support organizations like CHEO, you are ensuring we
ALL have information about options crucial for optimal
health and wellness. Why not drop by one of our meetings
and see for yourself!
By
Jo Peckinpaugh,
Jo@JoPeckinpaugh.com |
